Prayers pay, snow-rains in Kashmir, including Srinagar

Srinagar, Jan 5 (UNI) The summer capital, Srinagar, experienced light rains while it was heavily snowing on the upper reaches in the Kashmir valley since late last night, ending the long dry spell much to the delight of people.

The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only road linking the valley with rest of the country, was opened for traffic despite rains, a traffic police official told UNI.

Lakhs of people prayed for early snowfall and rain in different holy shrines and mosques in the Kashmir valley during Friday congregations.

Srinagar experienced light snowfall since early this morning, resulting in considerable drop in the day temperature, which remained above normal during the past two weeks because of clear weather.

However, people were delighted as snowfall has ended the long dry spell, which had resulted in damage to different crops, drop in the water level in rivers and cold related dieases.

The last night was a bit warm as compare to past three days when the temperature had dipped to minus four degrees. Coldest being the minus 7.4 on January 2 Dal Lake, water tapes and other water bodies were also freezed in the valley.

The night temperature was minus 0.2 degree, a weather office spokesman said.

A report from Baramulla said it was heavily snowing on the upper reaches in the north Kashmir since late last night.

The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg experienced about half a foot of snowfall while Affarwat and seven springs, which are connected by Gandola cable car, had more than one foot of fresh snowfall since last night. A large number of tourists from different states, were seen enjoying the snowfall on the slopes.

Anantnag town and its adjoining areas, in south Kashmir also experienced rains since early this morning.

However, this was a second, snowfall, of the season, in the upper reaches, a report said.

It said about one to two of fresh snowfall was recorded at holy Amarnath cave shrine and its periphery, Sheshnag, Mahaguns, Pisso top and Panjtherni.

UNI BAS MYK SK RK1538